Flatulence-based reprimand rescinded

UPI News Service, 01/11/2013

The U.S. Social Security Administration said it has rescinded a reprimand filed against an employee for creating a "hostile work environment" by "passing gas."

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The reprimand, which became public when it was posted on TheSmokingGun website, was filed against a worker accused by co-workers of creating a "hostile work environment" by continuously "passing gas and releasing an unpleasant odor," The Washington Post reported Friday.

The agency said the reprimand has now been rescinded.

"When senior management became aware of the reprimand it was immediately rescinded," spokeswoman Dorothy Clark said.

The Social Security Administration did not offer a date for the rescinding action or respond to questions about the status of the employee.

The reprimand was filed by the agency's Office of Disability Operations and cited 60 occasions when the worker was accused of passing gas -- up to nine times per day -- in his office over the course of about 12 weeks.

The employee was described by TheSmokingGun as a 38-year-old man working at a Social Security office in Baltimore.